A site for my handmade cards, accompanied by my photos and written meanderings which are occasionally witty, often tongue-in-cheek, and rarely profound. Beginning in June 2013, you'll also see lots of NBUS, which is an acronym I coined for Never-Before-Used-Schtuff. Feel free to join in, use the acronym, and use up your NBUS too! Thanks for coming by! Have a beverage and enjoy!

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February 9, 2014

Birthday Banner Bouquet ~ NBUS #103

Good day!

I'm in the pink today! My Playhouse sees Dee Bris dressed in pink more often in February than in all the rest of the year. Everything is uber perky on every available surface!

Today's presentation card, although expertly sketched out by my hamster, evolved itself into an altogether different card than originally planned. For a couple of weeks I've had a NBUS heart stems die from Impression Obsession on my desk. Because of the hearts, I was planning to use it for a Valentine. But then Day 5 of the ongoing seven days of celebration challenges over at Papertrey Ink {capture the moment} was posted.

The challenge was to make a birthday card.

So I did:

I was able to use the IO die and a NBUS PTI banner die, too. I cut apart the PTI banner into individual flags to make it work with my design. The banner die cuts with the letters as negative spaces, so I filled them with the same pink card stock I used for my card base. For the bouquet, I cut the heart stems in the rose paper and then wiselike, I filled the negative spaces using the positive stems cut from pink paper. Then I skipped to my loo. Next, I cut a slit on each side of the stems and threaded the PTI ribbon through, securing it with tape on the back, punctuating it with an enameled pink heart brad, and pop-dotting it onto the card base.

We get extra credit if we take and link a second time with a mugshot of ourselves holding our cards. So I did that, too, with the help of Mister.

~~~

I purposely made my card using Mono Chrome pinks, so I could enter it in the third challenge at The Card Concept. My card this time is Clean and Layered. The Design Team and the gallery cards are so amazing! I recommend you go over to play and then book their post as a place to visit any time you feel the least bit depressed. There is a whole lot of perky pink on display to put you in the pink of mental health in no time!

As so often happens in Blogland, similar challenges are afoot. And so it is that the current challenge at the Craftyhands Challenge is to use different shades of the same color! I'll pink to that!

Just click on the links given for all these challenges to find all the rules, sponsor, and prize details ~ and to join in the fun!!

~~~

Did you spot the brilliant pink head of a tulip in that silly photo of moi? Here is the whole array in their own lime light, a gift from the Mister! We normally ignore the Hallmark holidays and instead celebrate, say, March 4th, or August 10th, but these tulips were too pretty to pass up. The weather has been so weird, my bulbs may not come up this year.

As long as we're at it, here are the orchids I received as a gift from the office at my retirement party, which I forgot to post before. I always kill orchids, so wish me luck and share advice if you have any.

And I just noticed yesterday that the spath plant has its first bloom of the year. This plant was a gift seven years ago as a wee 4-inch plant. I'm delighted that I've managed to keep it alive.

~~~

Okay, tata! Enjoy your day! No, seriously, enjoy. LITS!*

As always, thank you for coming by to visit the Playhouse and special thanks to you if you take the time to leave a comment and/or join as a follower! Please let me know you came by, so I can be sure and return the flavor!

To open the pop-up comment box that let's you jump to the end w/o scrolling:

Click CTL + Home.Click the Home tab under my blog banner which resets the post.Click Page Down to reach the end of the post.Click Comments and the pop-up box opens.Click Jump to Comment Form; no more car pool tunnel!Mwah!

Great mug shot! You are beautiful in every picture I have seen of you. Your card is stunning! Loving all the pink....maybe because of my 3 girls . The banner and your IO does are adorable. I have some I need to use as well. TFS the beautiful pictures of your plants. My DH and I love each other every day but Valentines day......jk

Darnell, great picture of YOU, love your "pink" accessory wrapped around your neck!! wonderful cards...and you do too know how to keep a running post and manage to get them all posted and two of them to the same link!

Stunning photos--of you and your pretty card! Love the die cut and all the pink. We currently have two orchids. Someone gave me the first one and I was sure I would kill it. Luckily they have been super easy. I got some strange instructions at first--like the ice cube a day--but have since found out they can be quite low maintenance.

Love the banner die cut apart like that & the genius way you wrapped the ribbon around the other die cut - perfect monochromatic card! I can't help you with the orchid - I love them & keep one alive for a couple of years before it died on me for absolutely no reason. I do best with succulents :)

Gorgeous card, Darnell! I love how all those pretty hearts look like they're coming up from the bottom of the card, and your banner is really fab! Love the photo of you, as well! I sure hope it gets you the win!!!

Thanks for sharing all these beautiful photos with us! Absolutely 'nothing' is in bloom around here!

Total pink sweetness, Darnell ... your heart bouquet card, those tulips and of course your smiling face! Lovely plant photo's ... and a home with not a speck of dust anywhere ... such bliss! Hugs, Anita :)

Super gorgeous card Dippy. Love how you've filled in the negative spaces.....so effective. Mister sure takes a good photo! Beautiful tulips and equally gorgeous orchids - only advice is to keep them fairly cool and not in direct sunlight, and water infrequently. Your last plant with it's first bloom is called Peace Lily over here.

Thank you Darnell for your lovely comment. Am loving the pink card and photo of you holding it! My son gave me two orchids last Mothers Day. After they finished flowering I cut the stems back to about 3 inches just above a node, and moved them to the windowsill on the landing upstairs. Then I neglected them a bit as I kept forgetting to water them but they obviously were happy as they grew new flower stems with masses of flowers. One has still got them all the other has finished flowering but is putting out new flower shoots before I could cut it back. They still get a bit neglected as I forget to water them but it seems to make them happy!

I love these NBUS dies Darnell, and such a great idea to fill in the cut outs with another colour - it works beautifully. A really brilliant card. Love the photo of you holding the card, and also your pretty flowers. I think I over watered my last orchid which expired in a very short time so I don't think I will be giving you any advice there. x

Beautiful card and of course you are too!!! I love your pink tulips and your orchid is beautiful as well. Do you know to water your orchid all you have to do is put a couple ice cubes in the pot and just let them melt? Your leaves will fall off and you will have just a stem, but don't worry more leaves will come back! Easy peasy! I love your other plant too-I don't have good luck with that plant. So any advice on that one?

Your card is a real beauty Darnell and so are you - you photograph so well! The tulips from Mister are gorgeous and so is your orchid - I am with you, I always kill mine off (sadly) but I might try Brenda's advice (above). Hugs, Annie xxx

Fabulous cards! I really enjoyed seeing the pictures of your lovely flowers in bloom too! I'm so ready for spring, as we just got another 3 inches of snow last night here in Maine. Thanks for visiting my blog and leaving me some love. Your comment made me smile!! You're a sweetie! Hugs~ Birgitps. That's a wonderful picture of sweet little you!!

I've noticed the trend of going back and filling in the negative spaces that die cuts leave behind. To which I say, y'all have too much time on your hands. I do like your card though and enjoyed seeing the picture of you holding it as well. Great looking plants and flowers too.

I don't know which is prettier you or the card both are beautifully perky and I see you color co-ordinated with that gorgeous scarf, now that shows real talent ! Great use of the negatives and the positives nothing went to waste on this card. BTW i too had been a serial orchid killer for many years but I actually kept two going for over two years until someone knocked them over. They love to be in the sun and not moved about at all.

I just love this card Darnell, fab and favourite colours, the heart flowers die is gorgeous as are those flag thingies, sorry not sure what they are called. Gorgeous picture of you too huni.

Orchids, oh my, I have a post to publish tomorrow where I have used my orchid stamp. The one thing I recommend strongly is do not water them too often. Your huge plant with all those flowers on is stunning and am a little jealous but I have no idea how to look after them to get them that good xx

Fabulous card Darnell...so pretty in pink! I love those long stemmed hearts and how you have bunched up, so sweet. Love your photo too...so pretty! And all the amazing flowers...tulips are my favorite flowers, just so beautiful.

Such a beautiful card, Darnell! I love the different shades of pink, and the way you created the stems is remarkable! Thanks for the detailed description--you put a lot of work into that card, & I'm glad to know how you did it! I love your picture, too. You always look happy, and that makes me feel good, too. Love your flowers! Hang onto the orchids even when they look dead. They can last forever and one day surprise you with another bloom when you least expect it.

Oooo! Lovely card there and look at you with lippy on!! Cannot remember the last time I had lippy on, but why both for Mr Fection and his buddies?Love that orchid. I will send you a link. I looooove orchids and there is a knack to to looking after them.Hugsxx

Love this modern bouquet (your real flowers are beautiful, too...how fun to see blooming plants). Super fun to see a picture of you and your happy smile, too. (P.S. Thanks so much for the congratulatory wishes...I can hardly believe I won.)

What a great card...the banner so fun and the lovely bouquet of hearts is just bursting like an explosion..Such a brilliant photo, bright and sparkling eyes wonderful smile...your delightful sweet self, enchanting.

I won't give you any advice for your flowers and plants, I just kill them, we've got 3 plants all looking good and alive and that's all thanks to hubby:) But they look the best whenever we've been away on holiday letting neighbors taking care of them. And that is perhaps a good excuse to go on more holidays... Nice seeing your photo and your sweet CAS love card!

There are all sorts of pretty in your post today, first and foremost that photo of pretty YOU!! And of course your card - pretty, pretty, pretty! I love, LOVE how you gathered the stems at the bottom with a ribbon and "tied" it with a sweet heart!! And those pretty flowers - especially the tulips, because it was such a sweet gesture by the Mister! But I've got to say, none of these would last in my house - I seem to have some special talent of killing any plant that enters my house!!!

Looks like the retirement is becomming you! You look great on the photo! Love the plants! Sorry to say I seem to be a not so pink girl (blue is my fav color...)+ I like the lay-out, but ...sorry... not the colors.... Hope you´re enjoying your week! Hugs, Gerrina

Happy Hearts it is too! A cheery colour for these drab days for sure. Great healthy plants, My daughter has a Orchid and it has survived over three years!!!! She can't believe it as she cannot keep a plant for more than two weeks normally...lol She has it stood in the corner of her window right up against the wall. it blooms beautifully every year. Hugs Mau xx

What a pretty girly card Darnell and that die cut is spiffy! How did I miss that you went and retired? Congratulations and enjoy your extra time in the playroom. HugsCarol xPS I too am enjoying the PTI festivities but it's hard to fit them in.

What a pretty girly card Darnell and that die cut is spiffy! How did I miss that you went and retired? Congratulations and enjoy your extra time in the playroom. HugsCarol xPS I too am enjoying the PTI festivities but it's hard to fit them in.

Ooooo! What a beauty! Well three beauties really, first, I love your beautiful card it is so ....well, pink!'no seriously'(mmm,where have I heard those words before)I love the happy banner,and the long stemmed hearts, altogether it is just lush.Second, your beautiful picture you look lovely, not a mugshot at all.Third, those beautiful tulips are gorgeous. I LOVE pink ! Have a great day.Hugs Lottie x

WOOHOO! Congrats on your win!!! Awesome sauce!!! Great card and photo and it was the photo one that got you the big win! I love orchids, I think I mentioned that in your other post. I have been able to keep mine alive for a while now and I have a brown thumb. haha I think finding the perfect spot is key. Little sunlight. Good luck with it!

Hi Darnell! I love your pretty plants! Love your pretty pink card, my favorite color! I am so glad I came over today and get to see your pretty smile!!! Thanks for stopping by my blog. I joined yours and added you to my bloglovn!

Love your sweet card! And I love your your photo with you and your card!! It is great!!!That orchid would love sitting in your window in the playhouse! And put an ice cube in it every other day!Just don't overwater...that's why the ice cube works!

Hello there dear Darnell, what a most beautiful photo of you! Now don't say it's not, for I will not hear of it.Your card is beautiful and ... er ... pink, very pink indeed, lol. I love it! There's always lots of pink on my desk, so you will not hear me complain here.As for Dorset area, thank you dear for telling me about the floods. I didn't know until you mentioned it at my blog. My photos were taken some years ago. I don't know what the present situation is there but I do know (after some internet searching) that there's flooding and heavy weather in the surrounding area. Old Sarum is high ground though, so I don't think they have floods. But the weather is nasty and will be this coming week. It is all horrible for the people and animals who live there, my heart goes out to them. Thank you dear for telling me.Big hugs to you, Wendy

This is a cute card and so is the picture. I think of you as always smiling and the picture confirms it. Love that snappy scarf too. It is so difficult to type with my fingers crossed but I am doing that today. I typed this out twice yesterday and when I published it disappeared. Still don't know where it went! Today will be better. Thank you for the sweetest comment on my blog. Love all you gals and you are so uplifting.

Loved your card, loved your photo but most of all, I ALWAYS love your sense of humor! As for the orchid, it is a phalaenopsis, also called the moth orchid, and it likes indirect sunlight and cooler temps, so don't put it in a sunny window or next to a heat source like a register. Water it no more than once a week and make sure the water drains out the bottom completely. Never let it sit in water. Misting the leaves once in a while will make it very happy. And please, no matter what anyone says or what the tag says, DO NOT USE ICE CUBES!!!! The cold is just too shocking to the plant. In fact, when you water the plant, it is best to use room temp water. Your flowers should last for weeks, if not months, and if you cut the stem just above the 4th node after it's finished blooming you will probably get another flower stalk within a year. I've had hundreds of orchids over the last 30 years and these are the rules I follow for phals. They really are very easy to keep and their blooms give such joy for so long. Good luck!

Beautiful PINK card, Darnell. Great pic of a beautiful lady! Your orchids remind me of my Mother...they were her favorite flower...and she had such a gift with growing them...Hope you have a great week.

That card is a real masterpiece - I love it! That die is adorable and I love how you wrapped the ribbon around and added that cute heart brad and the banners! And all this awesomeness in just two shades of pink! That is a great picture of you!

Well, Indeed, this is a pink card! So very beautifully pink too! Love that IO die (just got it recently - NBUS) and it's wonderful with your happy banner too. This one just made me smile all over. Matches your pretty bright tulips too. Mr did good as a photographer. Captured your beautiful self just fine. I am liking that new picture very much. Love your haircut too! On the orchid, can't help you there. I have the same problem, and have requested mercy for any future thought of that kind of plant. Your spath is cheery too, and I've had better luck with that one, but alas, eventually - they all bite the dust. I'm celebrating because I've over-wintered a red geranium for about 4 yrs now. It's still got some green on it, even though neglected in the garage at the moment. TFS & many Hugs. One to Mr too, for taking such a pretty photo. Does he give lessons? LOL

Skipping to the loo is an age thing. Time was, we could just stroll to the loo...

As for orchids, go with Barbara in SC's advice. They are tropical plants, and the only place for ice cubes in the tropics is in a G&T! Or wodkawater in your case. The orchid in my bathroom has just finished flowering (since August), and that was its second time (cut back, ignore, water sparingly, regrow). They like mist (hence bathroom or occasional spray with an atomiser).

Love the card BTW, and thank you for my lovely valentine! TBH I thought it was from Mister until I opened it ;)

Your card reminds me of tulips like in your other pic... Which are my fave flowers!! :)) I like how you have used the banners separately -- they look really nice!! All the shades of pink are delightful -- & my fave part of your post today is your new pic!!You look radiant !! Xo

Hello my sweet friend, you look gorgeous in your photo holding your gorgeous pink card, your tulips are soooo pretty in pink and that orchid to die for, and your 7 year plat with its first bloom is fabulous, congrats for having this long, no plants for me, they just die, I don't allow them in my place. don't want to be know as a Plant Killer :O), thanks for sharing..

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About Me

I have been stamping and making cards since 2002. I've been married 47 years to Kevin, known herein as "Mister." Our son Daniel and his wife Rachel have twin sons Henry and Adam. Card-making and blogging are wonderful hobbies which have brought me noodles of friends! Oh, and I have an imaginary hamster named Hammy who keeps me in line. Thank you for visiting, joining, and commenting! It will be my pleasure to return the flavor!!